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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '90, 1990-03-21, Page 6A6. FARMING ‘90, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990. Pig farming today much more than slopping hogs Forget about slopping the hogs, pig farming today is just not that simple. It involves a good deal of organization and commitment if you want to make it big business. Jeff Cardiff was born and raised on a mixed farm but it wasn’t until after college in 1979 that he began looking after his own operation full-time. He presently has about 800 pigs which he keeps in three barns, the old original and a farrowing barn, plus one at his father’s farm, where the younger gestating sows are kept. Each litter is transferred from room to room on a rotation basis following their birth until they are ready to be shipped at about 50 pounds. Only the females produced by an artificially inseminated sow-replacement gilt - are kept for breeding purposes. Mr. Cardiff also has five boars, even one called Crosby, named he says after John Crosby, who happened to be visiting Jeff’s father MP Murray Cardiff at the time it was born. A large wheel in the office with numerous pinson it helps Mr. Cardiff keep track of each individual sow, while wife Cathy handles the records. Close family Moving day When the pigs in the litter are four weeks old Jeff weans them by transferring the sow to another barn. Here he removes the feed bowl at the front of the pen to enable the mother to get out and walk to the adjoining barn. The plastic coated wire mesh floor in some of the pens allow the waste to fall below the pens, making them a cleaner, healthier environment for the little baby pigs. When the litter is transferred, the pens are washed out with a high pressure cleaner. Pigging out Won't hurt o bit Jeff Cardiff notches the ear of a young female pig to make her easily recognizable as one he will keep for breeding. Any of the females that are born from an artificially inseminated sow (replacement gilt) are marked. Feeding pigs has always beenadaily chore but with the larger operations of today so is keeping track of the different types of feed each age group needs to have. These young are being fed Pre-weaning Feed as they will soon be separated from their n^other. These babies are about 3-weeks of age. Gentle persuasion Jeff moves two sows out of the farrowing barn and into the old barn in order to wean the baby pigs off them. They will remain here after breeding when they hopefully farrow in 114 days.